Colour Play

It seems that I have managed to fill my week with rather a lot of yarny colour play, and I have really enjoyed myself. I think it must be my natural defense against the weather which has been multiple shades of wet, dismal grey. I'm edging very close to completing my poncho (yipppeeeeeeeeeeeeee!) and I've had many requests lately for yarn details and colour info for this project. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, and the picture above is the original colour selection I  made when I started out with my Interlocking Colour ripple blanket back in Autumn 2011.

I've used the leftovers from this collection for my poncho, with a couple of extras added in. However, when I tried to gather together updated colour info to share, I was shocked to find that out of the 18 shades I used, only 5 are still available. That means a whopping thirteen shades have been discontinued! I've tried hard to work out replacements, but frankly some of my best most favourite colours in this yarn (oh that turquoise blue!) have simply been removed which makes me very sad. Naughty Debbie Bliss!

I've been pondering a lot about yarn and colour palettes recently and my mind has been filled with all manner of delightful yarn infested thoughts. When I put together the colours for my ripple blanket, I wrote a post trying to explain a little bit about how I choose my colours for a project (you can read about it here). It is such an interesting subject and I get asked over and over again about my colour choosing strategies.

Oooooooo, look at all that yummy, scrummy yarny colour! Do you remember this? These were the colours I chose to make the Granny Stripe blanket for Connievan in the Spring of 2010. The yarn is Stylecraft Special DK,* 17 colours chosen especially to deliver Happiness. I had Happy Caravan thoughts in mind when I picked out these colours :: lazy, Summer afternoons, leisurely picnics, cool green grass, stripy deckchairs, strings of bunting, colouring books and crochet, wild flower meadows. I went to my Happy Place when I chose them, and even now they give me a huuuuuuge rush of pleasure.

Over the years that I've been working with the Stylecraft yarn, I've come to really like it a lot. I was very sceptical at first as I wasn't at all sure that I would be able to get along with an acrylic yarn. I had scratchy, squeaky, plasticky concerns, but right from the start it totally surprised me. It is soft and very easy to work with. It doesn't split and it hooks up beautifully. It makes fantastic, warm, soft, snugly blankets and the 100g balls are deliciously squidgy and generous. It's an all round amazing budget yarn, beautifully suited to blanket making.

Did you know that there are currently 55 shades of Stylecraft Special? Yes, fifty five! So my happy little collection of 17 shades is actually only a third of the total available.

One of the things I've been quietly working on during the past year is a fresh new range of colour collections. I've been experimenting with colours that are waaaaaaaaaay out of my comfort zone. Mocha and copper and grey and camel! Yeah, I KNOW! Bet you never thought you'd see me embracing NEUTRALS did you, not in a month of Sundays!

But I am learning to open my creative mind, experimenting with all sorts of new and wonderful ways to combine colours that isn't necessarily based on instinct and emotion (which is my usual approach). I am very used to working with colour and have been doing it for all of my adult life. When I left school at 18, I went to art college for a year, and colour theory formed a big part of my training there. I then went on to take a degree course, studying textiles and embroidery for three years. Of course, none of this had anything to do with yarn (I am a late comer to the delights of yarn shops), but colour, yes most definitely. My textile work has always, always been all about the colour. And so it continues with yarn....

I've been at my studio this week, winding up a storm with my trusty yarn winder (oh how I love using that thing!), turning out some delicious yarn cakes to play with.

The rain poured down outside, and inside I immersed myself completely in the joy of colour. Lots and lots and lots of yarny colour. There are 36 shades above (all Stylecraft Special DK), including the 17 colours that have become know as "Attic24 colours"*.....

....here they are look, awwwww my heart just flip-flopped at the sight of them! Such happy sunshiny Summer loveliness in that bowl!

Now look at this...............

....ooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! What do you think?? Do you like it? Or is it a bit odd? Do you see two shades of GrEy? And do you see the pale, pale apricot and the BrOwN lurking in there? This was just me having a bit of playtime, and I can tell you that I didn't labour over this selection in any way shape or form. I just picked them very quickly and plopped them into the bowl, an experiment to see if I could bring myself to actually like a collection that contained grey, brown and apricot.

This was more of a considered choice, a collection of warm hues. Girly colours if you like.

And then onto the cool side, a bowl of ocean blues and grassy greens.

Hmmmmmm, not at all sure about this selection. I kind of like it, but it is maybe a bit pastely to really rock my boat. I picked out the softer colours of Stylecraft, thinking in my mind of delicate spring flowers, fluttery blossom and pale sunshiny mornings.

Ahhh, that's better, back to familiar Lucy colours, these are definitely my soul colours :o)

This colour palette of mine has become very well known since my granny stripe blanket was born. I see these colours around such a lot in Blogland, Facebook and on Pinterest, repeated and enjoyed, bringing colourful yarny happiness to so many. It really does make me very, very happy to see.

I'm really looking forward to working some new colour ideas though, it's very exciting stuff for a colour addict like me. Happy sigh.....I love colour and yarn. So, so much.

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ps. you can find my original Attic24 Stylecraft colour pack at Deramores*. There is currently 10% off all Stylecraft yarn there until 8th Feb. Enter the coupon code STYLE10.

*{sponsored link}

EDIT TO ADD :: re the colour pack of 17 colours....these are generous 100g balls and easily enough to make a single bed size blanket (approx 110 x 180cm). For a single bed ripple blanket, I used a 4mm hook and chained 213 to start (that's 210+3). You would need two packs to make a huge kingsize blanket. Hope that helps!xx

♥

♥...more snippets from the Attic...♥

Granny Patchwork Blanket :: Ta-dah!

Half Way

Yarndale 2013 :: The Yarn Bombing

Busy Days

Studio Time

Comments

[Hazel]

I love your different colour palettes and the greeny blue one is shouting at me. I would love to see more colour collections from you Luce as I am so rubbish at picking good colour combos. I agree about the Stylecraft. Great yarn. x

[Liz]

Love the blues and greens selection - which shades are they please?

[Lisa Nelson]

Love all of these combos.

A question for you. I am in the States and made a granny strip blanket with a combo of the different (some squeakier than others!) yarns available here. I like how it turned out, but it is getting PILLY! (One of the main reasons I have avoided 100% acrylic)

Can you tell me how the Stylecraft acrylic yarns wear over time? My blanket got softer (an un-squeaked!) after a wash, but just curious how the Stylecraft performs over time. I am disappointed with how much mine has pilled in about 6 months.

Thanks so much! Always so inspired by your posts and dream of visiting England one day!
Lisa

[Alison Griffiths]

Lucy I hope you get to see this as your blog is so justifiably busy, but I have a question I thought I posed before ******** IS THE STUDIO WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE?******* I get a feeling it isn't from the pictures :( I'm desperately waiting for pay day, which is the 7th, so I can buy the Lucy's colours pack and get the 10% discount. You've really inspired me, crochet is perfect for my worst days when I am on bed rest. I love how positive you are about life and I try and be the same, I don't always manage though!

[The Patchwork Heart]

very interesting my friend to see you being brave and testing new colour palettes!!! It is hard I know ... I always come back to The Patchwork Heart colours of red pink blue turquoise and green and then feel so happy :))

Lots of love as always
Heather x x x

[Irene]

I just did it! I ordered the "Attic 24" pack at Deramores! (2 actually, my mum is taking up crochet again as well!)
I'm going to try to make the neat ripple pattern with it :D. Do you have suggestions for me on the amount of chains I should start off with to make the best use of the 17 skeins?
Thank you in advance and thank you for all the inspiration!

Lots of love from Holland!

[Elena Hunt]

Love your colors... You are an inspiration to all of us!

[Marie]

Lucy, your blog is a pure delight! For the colour addict that I am, it is genuine therapy, and if I ever feel low, a little browse through your pages is sure to pick me up. Thank you, thank you so much for what you do. I look forward to seeing your new use of colours in action. :)

[Mary Pugh]

I particularly like the collection of warm hues, the ones you called "girly colours". I might have to pinch that idea!

[Lauren]

I like the pale apricot and brown selection most of all. It reminds me of Facile Cecile whose palette is an absolute favourite of mine. Are you sure you don't like brown though? You are wearing it in your studio selfie. Mind you I know colours to wear and colours to make 'things' with are entirely different. I wear neutrals like grey with some colour as I don't suit deep colours. However, I like to have colour around me so I use depth of colour for that instead.

[Sara Jenkins]

Have you seen "My Craft Life" on Facebook - she puts together some wonderful colour combinations - https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Craft-Life/193699757503308
Using Stylecraft too :)

[Joy]

I love your colourful yarny choices and since finding you my home has brightened no end with blankets, cushions, coasters all manner of things you have inspired me to do. Pastel is ok if that is what is in your head for whatever project is rattling around in there. I will watch this space in anticipation to see what you surprise us with next. xx Lots of love Joy xx

[mrsbrownmakes]

I find the colours different people choose fascinating and love the way you're experimenting with smaller amounts in bowls. It always amazes me how the tiniest bit of something can change a colour palette completely. (love the greys and apricot btw)x

[Mel Tucker]

Look at all the lovely colours! I bought the "Attic 24" pack from Deramores 18 months ago, such happy colours.

Especially love the ocean colours you put together in this post, are they all stylecraft as well?

[Jude]

Interesting you post this today, I just received my order from deramores half hr ago YIPPEE! I'm usually a stronger colour person interspersed with muted tones but thought I'd push out of my comfort zone and give the "Lucy colours" a go! Keep it up Lucy! You also inspired me to start my own blog this year :D xx

[Kate]

Playing with colour is a very gentle addiction. Expensive,when it involves wool, but gentle....

[Emmy]

Delightful, yummy yummy yum yum colors!! I am so in love with colorful color combos. The too muted, too pastel, too dark just don't do it for me. They don't inspire me. But your beautiful palettes are just captivating. I love buying a rainbow palette of yarny goodness and then playing with them- so much fun!

Oh, and I'm glad Deramores re-stocked on your color pack so quickly! It's amazing how fast people rush to claim their colors!

[Megan]

Lovely color palettes! Your textile work is AMAZING, I loved every piece! :)

[Anne Marie]

I love your different colour palettes. I think we can easily get trapped into our favourite, well loved ones.

I bought the Stylecraft Special on your recommendation, at Yarndale, after having seen it and touched it. Like you I was sceptical about ACRYLIC! I've yet to start it. I wanted brighter than the Sublime one I've already made. I might even do the French ripple with it.

If you want to make something totally different, I used some King Cole Shine for a crochet Baktus scarf for a friend. I needed to make it fast. It is fabulously soft to work with, with a silver thread running through and beautiful to touch finished article. The girl I made it for is very ill and I wanted her to have something lovely. She is delighted with it.

[miepiesheksenketel]

I like how you play with colors. good idea to put them all together and take a picture to see ho it all looks together. Will keep that one in mind. :-)
Miep

[Catherine]

Ooh, I really love the bowl of ocean blues and grassy greens. Which shades are these? Lovely inspiration as always!

[Lizy Tish]

You definitely have talent when it comes to color coordination! Love the warm hued girly color bunch so much. I started a ripple afghan but I'm not thrilled with my color choices as a whole. I may go back to the drawing board ( or color board -haha).

[Helen]

I love playing with colour, I've set myself a target to crochet a granny square each day in February and I'm picking out all the colours I want to use today, I may even have 28 different odd balls lurking around which would make for an interesting palette!
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/

[Nancy Caughey]

I feel happy when I hear certain songs, see certain landscapes, and see your colorful palette. thanks. Looking forward to the poncho pattern.

[justpootling.blogspot.co.uk]

Morning Lucy
Lovely post, bit by bit I am coming round to colour and its all from the inspiration you bring !
Definitely loving your grey and beige choices, I am totally hooked on greys right now...even dedicating a whole post to it, is that a bit sad ?!
http://justpootling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/for-love-of-grey.html
Have a lovely weekend,
Kate x